This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

020743Z Aug 05

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006160 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER CASC IZ JO
SUBJECT: FM ON RELATIONS WITH ITG, MONEY LAUNDERING, 
CONSULAR MOU AND UNSC EXPANSION 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 6148 
 
     ¶B. AMMAN 6118 
     ¶C. AMMAN 6116 
     ¶D. AMMAN 5806 
     ¶E. AMMAN 5626 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Kasrawi hopes to send an 
ambassador to Baghdad by September, but will first need 
adequate assurances concerning his safety.  A visit by PM 
Badran to Iraq is still possible, although, again, security 
is the chief concern.  The GOJ will work hard to ensure 
passage of a new anti-money laundering law in parliament this 
Fall, and is moving ahead on U.S. requests regarding judicial 
cooperation and the Proliferation Security Initiative. 
Kasrawi asked for an update on the draft consular MOU on 
parental access, and the latest U.S. understanding on the G4 
proposal for UN Security Council expansion. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
¶2.  (C) Charge met July 31 with Foreign Minister Farouk 
Kasrawi.  After discussing issues related to the upcoming 
Arab summit at Sharm (ref C), a lawsuit brought against the 
GOJ in the U.S. by Iraqi Deputy PM Ahmad Chalabi (ref B), and 
the U.S.-Jordan Article 98 agreement (ref A), Charge raised 
Jordan's plans to send an ambassador to Iraq.  Kasrawi 
replied that the designated nominee, retired general Ahmed 
al-Louzi, had received full support from within the GOJ, as 
well as agrement from Baghdad.  The remaining hurdle to 
al-Louzi's departure for Iraq was security.  Kasrawi said he 
was still waiting to hear from the Jordanian Charge in 
Baghdad on proposed security arrangements for the new 
ambassador, including Jordan's request that he be housed in 
the Green Zone.  (NOTE: Kasrawi said he would like to send 
one or two other Jordanian diplomats to Baghdad, but needed 
assurances on the safety of their residences as well.  END 
NOTE.)  He added that he hoped al-Louzi would be in Baghdad 
prior to the start of the UN General Assembly in September, 
but that al-Louzi might have to present his credentials and 
then return to Amman if sufficient security measures were not 
in place by then. 
 
¶3.  (C) Charge also asked Kasrawi to encourage Prime Minister 
Badran in his stated intention to travel to Baghdad.  Kasrawi 
recognized the symbolic impact that a Badran visit could 
make, but said that plans for such a visit (as well as travel 
by al-Louzi) would have to proceed very carefully, as well as 
quietly as the Jordanian Charge in Baghdad reported feeling 
more "under watch" since press articles appeared on 
al-Louzi's appointment. 
 
¶4.  (C) Turning from Iraq, Charge reiterated strong U.S. 
support for the GOJ's draft anti-money laundering bill and 
asked that it be given priority status when parliament 
reconvenes in the Fall, particularly since it was left off 
the agenda for parliament's extraordinary summer session (ref 
D).  Kasrawi assured Charge that the bill was very important 
to the GOJ as well, and said that the government was 
currently working to overcome potential opposition to it so 
as to increase its chances for smooth passage in the 
legislature.  Kasrawi took note of Charge's request for 
Jordan to soon join the Proliferation Security Initiative, 
saying that the GOJ was trying to resolve "conflicting legal 
opinions" concerning its provisions.  He also promised to 
talk to the Minister of Justice about strengthening an 
inter-agency judicial cooperation committee set up this year 
to improve bilateral judicial assistance. 
 
¶5.  (C) Kasrawi concluded the meeting by asking about U.S. 
reaction to proposed GOJ changes to the draft consular 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on parental access in child 
custody cases, as well as the latest U.S. understanding on 
the G4 proposal for UN Security Council expansion.  With 
respect to the latter, he pointed to an emerging G4/African 
agreement, but emphasized that he hoped the issue would not 
come to a vote prematurely.  Charge responded that post would 
follow up on both matters. 
HALE